Multistage pneumatic pump



Sept. 6, 1932- L. D. GILBERT MULTISTAGE PNEUMATIC PUMP Tin 1 INVENTOR v L/aya Q Q/k/f' ATTORNEYS Sept. 6, 1932. D. GILBERT MULTI STAGE PNEUMATIC PUMP F'iied Feb. 1.3 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEYS W 7 R 0 m M 6 6 m 8 9 m \V \W \M\ V \r d v i v V V m a U Y B NM \N N 0 Av N W q r A Patented. Sept. 6, 1932" UNITED STATES LLOYD 1). GILBERT, or Los. Antennas, CALIFORNIA mmsmes PNEUMATIC rum? Application filed February 13, 1931. Serial 1%. 515,4sa

This invention relates to a method and means for lifting liquids from deep wells through the employment of gaseous fluids as an actuating fluid. It appertains particularly to an automatically v operating device wherein there is a flow line for the actuated liquid to be lifted and a displacement chamber connected thereto and in which an actuating fluid operates upon the actuated liquid. The invention has a field of utility in oil wells and contemplates the useof anumber of displacement chambersjalong the flow line to provide a multistage lift and also contemplates a single actuating fluid line. A prin- .5 ciple involved is that of introducing alter nate columns of actuated liquid and actuating fluid into the flow line between chambers, causing an overrun of the liquid beyond a chamber, diversion of the succeeding actuat ing fluid column from the flow line lnto a chamber and its exhaust therefrom, backflow into the chamber of the overrun liquid, introduction of actuating fluid into the chamber to displace the liquid therefrom and to enter the flow line as a" column. The present invention relates to a combination of the before mentioned steps to carry outthe process and means for performing the process.

These objects are obtained by means of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a sectionthrough adisplacement chamber showing parts in elevation'and taken on the line 11 of Fig. 2;.Fig. 2 is a section as seen at right angles to Fig. 1 and taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3' is a section as seen on the line 33 of Fig. 1; and Figs. 4a

and 4b are views showing successive cham bers 1n the line, the chamber shown in 4?) being the bottom chamber. I

Referring with more particularity to the drawings, a well casing is" indicated by 5.

A flow pipe 6 for liquid to be lifted extends from the lower part of the well to the 'sur-] face, the lower end being submerged in the liquid within the well. In the tail end of the flow pipe is a check valve indicated generally by 7, which valve prevents retrograde flow' in the flow line. The bottom displacement chamber comprises a she1l8" and the flow line has a branch 9 communicating with the chamberfor the passage of fluid between the 'cha'm her and the flow line. This branch is freely open for passage of fluid both to and from the flow line.- An exhaust opening or. port 5&- 10 is surmounted by a cage 11 and slidably mounted in the crown of the cageis the stem 12 of an exhaust valve having afloat 13ex tending from the valve portion 14. The float 13 may be a hollow body andis guided at its 66 lower end by a bracket l5 mounted upon the flow pipe. Extending the length of the well isfan air oractuating fluid pipe 16 whijch is closed to the chamber 8 except .for a re}- stricted port 17; This port is'freelyopento as thechamber Band it will be noted'tha't' the cross-sectional area is small as compared with the area of the exhaust port 10. The shell8 is disposed below the normal level of liquid in the well and, if necessary, the exhaust may be 76 carried by a line above the liquid level in the well, it being obvious that the exhaust must be above such liquid level. Assuming that the exhaust valve is open, airor actuating fluid will be entering the chamber 78. through the port 17, but at a rate insufiicient to build up pressure in the chamber as the exhaust port is open. Thepressure in the ohamber issubstantially that ofthe atmosphere. Liquid will pass through the tail of b the'flow pipe past, valve 7 and into the flow line, enteri'ng'the chamber 8 by way of branch 9. As the level of the liquid in chamber 8 rises, it will exert its buoyant effect upon U float 13, causing the latter to rise until the f exhaust valve is closed. Thereupon pressure off actuating fluid passing through port 17 will buildup pressure in the chamber and displace the liquid therein, causing it to pass into the flow pipe 6 by Way of branch '9. Displacement will continue until the level of the liquid has passed below the mouth of branch 9. Airthen enters the flow. pipe fol-. lowing the column ofliquid and entrance of airwillcontinue, until the pressure within 9 5 the chamber 8 has been relieved'. The exhaus t valve is maintained closed during the period until air pressure is relieved by reason of theairpressure exerted upon the float tendingto hold the exhaust valve'clos'ed. As

soon as pressure is relieved in the chamber, the exhaust valve will drop of its own weight and open the exhaust port, whereupon the cycle just described is repeated. Relief of pressure in the chamber 8 is obtained by relief of pressure in the flow line, and this is Obtained by the functioning of the next succeeding higher displacement chamber whlch will now be described. I

The remaining displacement chambers are of like construction, and one will bedescribed. A shell 18 forms a displacement chamber and the flow pipe and air pipe extend therethrough. In the flow pipe below the chamber is a check valve 19 of the same general construction asthe check valve 7 A branch pipe 20 communicates with the flow pipe and has a check valve 21 which permits flow of fluid from the chamber 18 to the flow pipe and prevents retrograde flow from the pipe to the chamber. The air pipe 16 is connected by a port-22 to the chamber in a manner similar to that of the lower chamber shown in Fig. 4b. An exhaust port is provided in the chamber and is controlled by a liquid level operated valve indicated generally by 23 and similar in its construction to that shown in Fig. 4b. The exhaust of the lower chambers must be abovethe level of liquid in the well. Disposed in the chamber 18 is a riser pipe24 communicating with the flow pipe at thelower end of the chamber and having restricted ports at the top indicated by 25. The riser pipe and its connection to the flow pipe is so designed that the rate of flow of fluid in the riser pipe will be less than that in the flow pipe. Factors controlling this are the energy of the moving column in the flow pipe and the position of the opening from the riser to the flow pipe. This is further aided in the structure shown by the size of bore of the riser pipe and the restricted ports 25.

In the operation of the chamber, a column of actuated liquid passes upwardly in the flow pipe followed by a column of actuating fluid which moves the liquid column. Assuming that the chamber 18 is substantially empty and that the exhaust valve 23 is open, the column of liquid will pass the check valve 19 and continue upwardly followed by the column of air or actuated fluid. Some of the actuated fluid passes into the riser pipe 24 and out to the chamber through ports 25. However, the level of liquid in the flow pipe will rise above the chamber. Finally the column of air reaches the opening of the riser pipe and enters the latter forcing the liquid therein out into the chamber and then passes into the chamber 18 under atmospheric pressure;

This causes a relief of pressure in the flow pipe and this relief in pressure is transmitted through the flow pipe to the next lower chamber causing the exhaust valve to open in the lower chamber as for illustration the exhaust valve 14. The column of liquid in the flow pipe 6 which has overrun the chamber 18, then tends to return, but is prevented from returning beyond the check valve 19. However, it may pass upwardly through the riser pipe 24: and overflow into the chamber 18 until the level of liquid causes the exhaust valve to close, whereupon the liquid in chamber 18 is displaced and caused to travel upwardly in the flow pipe to the next higher succeeding chamber. The chambers act progressively upon a column of liquid.

The bottom chamber may be constructed exactly in accordance with the upper chambers. In such case the bottom chamber fills by way of the riser pipe. This establishes a time interval for filling of the lower chamber which corresponds to that of the upper chambers.

What I claim is: v

1. Means for lifting liquid from a well which comprises a flow pipe extending into the well, displacement chambers disposed along said flow pipe, check valves in said flow pipe adjacent and below each ofsaid chambers for preventing retrograde flow of fluid in said flow line, exit ports placing said flow pipe and chambers in communication for pas sage of fluid from said chambers to said flow pipe and check valves therein preventing retrograde flow, riser pipes in said chambers connected to the flow pipe at the lower parts of the chambers and opening to the upper parts thereof, said riser pipes having passages connected to said flow pipe to control flow of fluid therethrough to a rate less than that in said flow pipe, an actuating fluid pipe having openings in continuous and free communication with said chambers, and actuating fluid exhaust openings in said chambers, and liquid level controlled means for enabling opening of said exhaust openings when a predetermined low level has been reached in said chambers, and closing said exhaust openings when the level of liquid in said chambers has reached a predeterminedhigh'level, said actuating fluid pipe having its opening passages to said chambers restricting flow of actuating fluid to a rate less than that through said exhaust openings.

2. Means for lifting liquid from a well which comprises .a flow pipe extending into said well, a displacement chamber, acheck valve in said flow pipe below said chamber preventing retrograde flow, an'exit port from said chamber to said flow pipe, a check valve controlling said exit port and preventing passage of fluid from said flow pipe to said chamber, a riser pipe in said chamber extending from said flow pipe adjacent near the lower end of said chamber and opening to the upper end thereof, said riser pipe havinga passage connected to said flow pipe to control flow of fluid therethrough to arate less than that in said flow pipe, an exhaust opening in said chamber for actuating fluid, liquid level controlled means for said exhaust opening to enable opening of the latter when a preselected low level of liquid has been reached in said chamber and to close said opening when a preselected high level of liquid has been reached, and an actuating fluid inlet for said chamber in free communication therewith and having passage restricting flow of fluid therethrough to a rate less than the rate of flow of actuating fluid through said exhaust opening.

3. Means for lifting liquid from a well which comprises a flow pipe extending into said well, a displacement chamber disposed about said flow pipe, a check valve in said flow pipe below said chamber preventing retrograde flow, an exit port from said chamber to said flow pipe, a check valve controlling said exit port and preventing passage of fluid from said flow pipe to said chamber, a riser pipe in said chamber connected to said flow pipe adjacent the lower end of said chamber and opening to the upper end thereof and having a bore of less cross section than said flow pipe, an exhaust port for actuating fluid in said chamber, an exhaust valve to control February, 1931.

LLOYD D. GILBERT.

said exhaust port, liquid level control means a in said chamber operable to open said exhaust valve when a preselected low level of liquid 7 has been reached in said chamber and to close said exhaust valve when a preselected high level of liquid has been reached in said chamber, and an actuating fluid line extending into said chamber having an opening thereto with an aperture restricting flow of actuating fluid into said chamber to a rate less than the rate of flow of actuating fluid through said exhaust port.

4. Means for lifting liquid from a well which comprises a flow pipe extending into said well, displacement chambers surrounding and spaced along said flow pipe, check valves in said flow pipe at and below each chamber, exit openings in said chambers placing each chamber in communication with said flow pipe, check valves at said exit openings preventing retrograde flow of fluid from said flow pipe to said chambers, riser lines in said chambers having bores of less cross sec tion than said flow pipe and connected to said flow pipe at the lower parts of said chambers and freely opening to said chambers at the upper parts, exhaust ports for actuating fluid in said chambers, liquid level controlled means including exhaust valves for enabling opening of said exhaust ports when a preselected low level of liquid has been reached in said chambers and closing said exhaust ports when a preselected high level of liquid has been reached in said chambers, and an actuating fluid pipe extending into said well and through said chambers, said actuating fluid pipe having ports in free communication with said chambers, said last mentioned 

